THE GLORY OF GOD ( PART 8.1 )
Pastor Christopher Choo
Lesson 3305
THE GLORY OF GOD ( PART 8.1 )
Didn't the Bible say Moses saw God "face to face"?
In Exodus 33:20, God declared " You cannot see My face, for no one may see Me and live".
This scripture seems to contradict other scriptures that describe various people "seeing" God.
For example, Exodus 33:19-23 describes Moses speaking to God "face to face ".
How could Moses speak with God "face to face" if no one can see God and live?
Theologians have long wrestled to reconcile this seeming contradiction in the scriptures.
The phrase "face to face" in Hebrew is a figure of speech indicating that the two parties concerned were in very close communion. God and Moses were like two intimate friends having a close conversation.
But when Moses requested to see God revealed in all His glory, it was a different story. For we, in our fallen human condition, would be consumed and destroyed if He were to reveal Himself fully to us.
Thus God "veiled" Himself and appears in forms in which we can "see" Him. However, this is different from seeing God with all His glory and holiness displayed.
Abba Father, some have seen visions, images, and appearances of You, but no one - except for Jesus - has ever seen You in all Your fullness ( John 1:18 ).
